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Difference between revisions of "Lalwan Eryn"
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Found written on a plaque within the Sacred Elm is a plaque that reads:<blockquote>''"The Sacred Elm is open to all that would view the history of the Order of Arboreals. May our hands be ever guided by the light of Nature's way." -Erulehto, Mehtere, Ikarios, 144 AA''</blockquote> | Found written on a plaque within the Sacred Elm is a plaque that reads:<blockquote>''"The Sacred Elm is open to all that would view the history of the Order of Arboreals. May our hands be ever guided by the light of Nature's way." -Erulehto, Mehtere, Ikarios, 144 AA''</blockquote> | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
In the year 108 AA, shortly after the fall of [[Caanae]], the surviving members of the [[Academia Sylvalis]] formed a colony within a secret portion of the Egeria Forest. These scholars and naturalists, some of the first Arboreals, compiled their research on geography and earth magick within the Sacred Elmwood and were committed to finding a way to restore the ruined earth that was destroyed by the [[Horde]]. The residents of this colony soon began to notice that no one grew old here. | |||
As the sylayan language became more defined, the colony became known as Lalwan Eryn, the elvish equivalent to "the Sacred Elmwood". | |||
During an earth ritual, several Arboreals found themselves in a strange grove that appeared to be the remains of an old temple or shrine. It defied many of the laws of Nature and seemed to exist outside the [[Prime Material Plane]]. Erulehto, an Arboreal Sage, managed to harness the power of this grove and created the first known union of Mortal and Nature, leading to the discovery of the skills of [[Groves]] and [[Bonding]]. | |||
Over time, many of the residents of the Eryn ventured out into the [[Khandava Forest]] and founded what would be known as the guild of the Arboreals. The druids that remained in the Eryn grew more isolated over time, fearing the loss of their history to the dangers of the outside world. This was further amplified in the year 1 AD, when the red moon [[Sukhder]] heralded the [[Demon Incursions]] and brought forth the [[Age of Desperation]]. At this time, the residents of the Eryn created a magical barrier that cloaked their home from view and kept it from being discovered for centuries. | |||
In the year 419 AD, Erulehto left the Eryn briefly to visit the Arboreals of Khandava. He found Rasca Aran and other members of the guild and, after verifying that the Arboreals still existed in the modern age, promised them that the secrets of the Elmwood would soon be revealed to them. Five years later, in the year 424 AD, Erulehto returned to the Egeria Forest through the Lebethron, a strange and twisted elm tree, and summoned the Arboreals. He led them back to the Eryn and introduced them to Mehtere, the Druidic Priestess. She was responsible for the upkeep of the barrier that protected the Eryn, but explained that her strength was waning and the barrier would soon fall. Caitlin Ruadh, then a high-ranking member of the Arboreals and the High Priestess of Nature, promised that the Eryn would be protected by the guild if the barrier was to be removed, which encouraged Mehtere to finish her duty as protector of the colony. | |||
==Notable Denizens== | ==Notable Denizens== | ||
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**''The History of the Arboreals'' by Chronicler of the Lalwan and Druidic Priestess, Mehtere | **''The History of the Arboreals'' by Chronicler of the Lalwan and Druidic Priestess, Mehtere | ||
**''Ainu Aeriens'' by Erulehto, the Arboreal Sage | **''Ainu Aeriens'' by Erulehto, the Arboreal Sage | ||
**''A Compiled Dictionary of Herbs and Some Ingredients, as of 743 AH'' by researchers of the | **''A Compiled Dictionary of Herbs and Some Ingredients, as of 743 AH'' by researchers of the Academia Sylvalis | ||
:Coiling its way upwards from the base of the tree, a spiral staircase of pale, petrified wood links the upper and lower levels of the sacred Elm. The staircase is barred on either side by a banister of the same wood, left in its natural gnarled condition rather than being molded to befit some angular formation. The shrine at the upper level of the Elm, where Mehtere resides, is decorated with countless white candles casting a gentle glow over its darkened interior. They appear on either side of a long walkway down the center aisle, between rows of white pews that rise up from the floor as part of the very Elm itself. Around the room are columns of pale, petrified wood, twisted artfully like a screw so that it resembles a cyclone in nature. The dome ceiling stretches high overhead, scalloped terraces carved out from the bark in tiers appearing along the side walls. Upon them sit dozens of the white candles, some more melted than others, but all contributing their own illumination. At the head of the room is a small altar, inscribed with the phrase "Only a life lived for Nature is a life worthwhile." Roots, leaves, and other wild plants grow from the base of the altar, spreading across the far wall and stretching upwards. | :Coiling its way upwards from the base of the tree, a spiral staircase of pale, petrified wood links the upper and lower levels of the sacred Elm. The staircase is barred on either side by a banister of the same wood, left in its natural gnarled condition rather than being molded to befit some angular formation. The shrine at the upper level of the Elm, where Mehtere resides, is decorated with countless white candles casting a gentle glow over its darkened interior. They appear on either side of a long walkway down the center aisle, between rows of white pews that rise up from the floor as part of the very Elm itself. Around the room are columns of pale, petrified wood, twisted artfully like a screw so that it resembles a cyclone in nature. The dome ceiling stretches high overhead, scalloped terraces carved out from the bark in tiers appearing along the side walls. Upon them sit dozens of the white candles, some more melted than others, but all contributing their own illumination. At the head of the room is a small altar, inscribed with the phrase "Only a life lived for Nature is a life worthwhile." Roots, leaves, and other wild plants grow from the base of the altar, spreading across the far wall and stretching upwards. | ||
*'''The Primordial Grove''' - | *'''The Primordial Grove''' - The early residents of the Eryn called upon the spirits of the earth to create three stone monoliths that created a rough circle within the area. After many tries, the archways were activated and a portal to the Primordial Grove was created. Within this grove, outside the bounds of Nature and away from the Prime Material Plane, the ruins of a temple or shrine were found. These ruins would later be recognized as the relics of the [[Sacred Sites]], preserved in time after the fall of Caanae. The Primordial Grove is the personal grove of Erulehto, an Arboreal Sage, and it was in this grove that the skills of the Arboreal were developed. In all four compass directions, the remains of the Sacred Sites are found: | ||
**North - "Ascension". An inscription on the wall here reads: "Ascension be rewarded to those true of moral and spirit". | |||
**East - "Degeneration". An inscription on the wall here reads: "Through shades of violence, degeneration of man shall wreak". | |||
**South - "Damnation". An inscription on the wall here reads: "Damnation be laid down on the souls of those that have shunned virtuousness". | |||
**West - "Enlightenment". An inscription on the wall here reads: "Through epiphany and enlightenment, the Way is shown". | |||
*'''The Edelharn Stone''' - The Edelharn is a great stone monolith that rests in the center of the Primordial Grove as if some ancient sentinel. The monolith is a slanted, roughly triangular block with its heavier end pointed outwards. The rock is old, discoloured to a brownish-gray in hue, and large cracks run through its sides. It sits on a circular granite base, providing the suggestion of it being able to revolve, an implication which seems highly doubtful, as evidenced by its dilapidated and crumbled state. Every once in awhile, the stone seems to sigh wistfully, which could almost be attributed to the breeze filtering through the cracks in its surface. It weighs about 3250 pounds. | *'''The Edelharn Stone''' - The Edelharn is a great stone monolith that rests in the center of the Primordial Grove as if some ancient sentinel. The monolith is a slanted, roughly triangular block with its heavier end pointed outwards. The rock is old, discoloured to a brownish-gray in hue, and large cracks run through its sides. It sits on a circular granite base, providing the suggestion of it being able to revolve, an implication which seems highly doubtful, as evidenced by its dilapidated and crumbled state. Every once in awhile, the stone seems to sigh wistfully, which could almost be attributed to the breeze filtering through the cracks in its surface. It weighs about 3250 pounds. | ||
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*'''a blackthorn tree''' - Slender, and standing only about seven feet tall, this small tree is covered in blackish bark and boasts an impressive foliage of thorny leaves. The blackthorn has small white blossoms and small, blueish-black plumlike fruits which grow numerously on the tree's branches. The fruit found on its branches is: | *'''a blackthorn tree''' - Slender, and standing only about seven feet tall, this small tree is covered in blackish bark and boasts an impressive foliage of thorny leaves. The blackthorn has small white blossoms and small, blueish-black plumlike fruits which grow numerously on the tree's branches. The fruit found on its branches is: | ||
**'''a plumlike sloe''' - This fruit resembles a purple plum very closely. It is small and ripe and just ready to be eaten or squashed. It weighs 6 ounces. | **'''a plumlike sloe''' - This fruit resembles a purple plum very closely. It is small and ripe and just ready to be eaten or squashed. It weighs 6 ounces. | ||
*'''a lovely peach tree''' - This medium-sized ashen tree displays a series of bent and tangled branches that web off from the main trunk. The bark of the tree is rather thin, the outer most layer mottled with areas that are curled and slowly peeling itself off the trunk. The leaves of the tree are large and oval, each a deep green with dark crimson veins. This peculiar tree appears to grow an even more odd black fruit that grows along its flaking trunk and branches. It weighs about 300 pounds. | |||
*'''an apple tree sapling''' - It weighs about 6 pounds. | |||
*'''a petite forest sprite''' - This creature could easily fit within your palm, standing at just twelve inches tall. Her small stature seems to increase her loveliness. A white shroud of a transparent dress conceals her graceful form, and her hair, the color of the golden sun, swirls about her form in loose tendrils as flutters through the air. Her features are foreign and angular, with wide blue eyes possessed of a brilliance surpassing even that of a sun-struck sapphire. A petite forest sprite is not one to be trifled with. It weighs about 1 pound. | *'''a petite forest sprite''' - This creature could easily fit within your palm, standing at just twelve inches tall. Her small stature seems to increase her loveliness. A white shroud of a transparent dress conceals her graceful form, and her hair, the color of the golden sun, swirls about her form in loose tendrils as flutters through the air. Her features are foreign and angular, with wide blue eyes possessed of a brilliance surpassing even that of a sun-struck sapphire. A petite forest sprite is not one to be trifled with. It weighs about 1 pound. | ||